These Are PAINTINGS And No, I'm Not April Fooling You.

I thought this would be the perfect post for the first of April, a day when most people are punking, pranking, and just plain joking, because this artwork is pretty hard to believe. But it's for real.

Mundane Made Magnificent: Michael Ward Paints The Mystery Of The Ordinary.

A self-taught artist, Michael Ward captures what British-born philosopher Alan Watts called "the mystery of the ordinary" in his acrylic paintings of things we often overlook in our daily lives. Based on photographic images, his neo-realistic interpretations of unspectacular environments and people in the world around us are composed and rendered in such a way as to bring out the beauty in what one might have previously considered mundane, if not ugly.

Here are several of his paintings:





















Biography (courtesy of the artist):
I began my artistic career doing pen and ink renderings of historical architecture. I began painting in 1980, first in gouache, then in acrylics. Artists whose work I admire and draw inspiration from include Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler, Richard Estes and Vermeer. I am most interested in depicting what Alan Watts called the mystery of the ordinary; the workaday world we live in without seeing until we are forced to focus upon it, as in a painting.

Nearly all my paintings are based on photographs I have taken, primarily of Southern California scenes, over the years. Though it was never my intention to depict nostalgic scenes, many of the images I have painted have disappeared or been radically altered in the ever-changing landscape that is Southern California. Thus nostalgia is thrust upon the works. But what I am really after is bearing witness, and making people stop what they're doing and pay attention, to something they may have never seen before, but that makes them feel “I know this.”

I am currently working on a series of house paintings. These simple, ordinary, unnoticed places have hidden interior lives, though they do not reveal them to us. The houses are from a variety of locations in the United States and Mexico. They are the place you grew up in, a place of nurture, experience, trial, memory and forgetting. They are all a common size, to symbolize our shared experience of being human.

Phyllis Lutjeans, Museum Educator and former curator, has said of my work: “Although Michael Ward may be called a neo-realist painter his work can ultimately be described as abstract realism. The picture image is photographically realistic, but within the context of the painting his compositions are complex and almost abstract. Deciphering the work section by section one sees how a multitiude of individual complete compositions are put together to form the entire work. For me the viewer is confronted by a realistic image that puzzles us and clearly tells the story simultaneously.”

As a painter, I am self-taught.

Michael Ward Art and Design


A book of his works is available here on Blurb

See his paintings at Pasadena's Tirage Gallery

Other galleries that represent Michael Ward:

Mesa Art
789 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949.548.3570

Studio Gallery
18001 Skypark Circle, Suite R, Irvine, CA
949.851.9181

Contact the artist directly here.

Paintings That Are Truly Gems. Realistic Crystals and Minerals Rendered In Oils by Carly Waito.

above: Smoky Quartz, 2011

These amazingly realistic oil paintings on masonite by Carly Waito are really precious. Literally and figuratively. The small scale works range in size from 4.5" x 6" to 11" x 12' and impressively capture the way crystals and rocks reflect and refract light. Given the healing properties of many stones and minerals, these works have appeal in both their craft and subject matter. I'd like to own several of them and hang them together. As you can see, they sell quickly (almost every single one shown in this post is sold).


above: Dioptase, 2011 (sold)

above: Amethyst, 2011 (sold)

above: Pyrite, 2011 (sold)

above: Bornite coated Chalcocite, 2011 (sold)

above: Smoky Quartz, 2011 (sold)

above: Amethyst, 2011 (sold)

above: Smoky Quartz, 2011 (sold)

above: Flourite, 2011 (sold)

above: Vesuvianite, 2011 (sold)

above: Smoky Quartz, 2011 (sold)

above: Spessartine, 2011

above: Flourite, 2010 (sold)

above: Sphalerite, 2010 (sold)

above: Barite, 2010 (sold)

above: Amethyst, 2010

above: Rhodocrosite, 2009 (sold)

The following three images represent some of her latest work and as you can see, she is exploring black backgrounds for some of her newer pieces.


above: Amethyst Mountain, 2012

above: Tektite, 2012

above: Dark Crystal, 2012

The following text is courtesy of Narwhal Art Projects:
In these works, diminutive specimens of semi-precious gems and minerals are rendered in meticulous detail, exposing the beauty and logic of their structural minutiae. Yet, beyond simple imitation, Carly Waito’s reproductions imbue further worth to objects that are naturally perfect: where each specimen inherently exudes an aura, Waito has both reiterated and enhanced it. The result is a reverent homage to nature’s marvel, the faculty of humankind and the unconditional value of their synergy.

Through curating minerals, photographing them in macroscopic detail and rendering them in oil paints, Waito employs a layered process highlighting the ties between mimesis and levels of value. From the seemingly limitless depths of Smoky Quartz to the chromatic, reflective facets of Sphalerite, the geometry and beauty of each painted specimen speaks to the incredible complexities of nature’s design as well as Waito’s own facility. Each painting expands the infinitesimal traits of the artist’s tiny subjects, rendering them as detailed maps of an otherwise invisible geological universe.


About the artist:
Toronto-based artist Carly Waito was born in Manitouwadge in 1981 and raised in Thunder Bay. A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, Waito co-founded the ceramic art and design studio coe&waito with Alissa Coe in 2005. The partnership is known for its elegant products and sculptural installations inspired by the natural world. As a painter, Waito has continued to pursue this inspiration, with a focus towards geology, geometry and ideas of wonder and curiosity. She has participated in a number of exhibitions, including Little Crowns (Dec 2009) , The Dazzle (Oct 2010) and Specimens (2011) at Narwhal Projects, and Plus 1(2011) at Sloan Fine Art in New York.

Purchasing inquiries please contact Narwhal Art Projects.

NARWHAL
2988 DUNDAS ST WEST TORONTO ON CANADA M6P 1X6
tel: 647.346.5317

Carly Waito

Burlesque, Brooklyn, Roller Derby and Realism. The Paintings of Curt Hoppe.

above: Dottie's Birthday, oil on linen,64" x 56"

With a keen eye for composition, a deft hand for realism, and an inherent knack for finding interesting subject matter, painter Curt Hoppe immortalizes his surroundings, people and objects in an impressive and aesthetically captivating style with acrylic and oil paints on canvas and linen.

Hot Copy:

The Hustler, Money Shot:

Sunbather:


Born and raised in Minnesota, the 61 year old New York based painter is also a talented photographer and sculptor. Citing pop culture, Madison Avenue and politics and some of his influences, he is moved by his obsession at the moment and his environment.*


above left: the artist sits under a painting of his in Sam's Restaurant, East Hampton and above right; striking a pose (on the far left) under the John Jovino Gun store in 1975

Roller Derby Queens, the Hamptons, Burlesque, the Punk music scene, New York restaurants and portraits are amongst his intriguing repertoire. Here are just a few of my favorite paintings of his.

John Gotti on Mulberry Street:

Luna Restuarant, Mulberry Street, New York

Yonak Shimmel Knish Bakery, New York:

Sip n' Soda, South Hampton:

John Jovino, Firearms on Baxter Street:

Grotta Azzura, Little Italy:

Dottie:

Coney Island Fire Eater:

Baby Ruthless:

Lux Alptram (aka Joey Hardcore XXX) Gotham Girl Queens of Pain:

Sugar Smack Gotham Girls:

Suzy Hot Rod Changes Wheels:

Suzy Hotrod:

Italian American:

Eye Opener:

You Wish:

Lou's Game:

High Heels:

High Heels (in Curt's studio):

Gal Friday in Curt's studio:


Recent work of Curt's shows the subjects standing in front of their portraits:

above: Clayton Patterson, acrylic on canvas 96" x 70", 2010-11 / Arturo Vega, acrylic on canvas 96" x 70", 2010 / Kurt Thometz, acrylic on Canvas 96" x 70", 2011




* 2007 interview with Curt Hoppe

A recent interview with Curt Hoppe:


all paintings and images were used with the express permission of the artist, please do not reproduce - but feel free to share the link!

Curt Hoppe
98 Bowery 4th Fl.
New York, NY 10013